A Brief History of Troy

In 1995, the state of Wisconsin placed a 15-acre undeveloped site abutting the Mendota Mental Health Center grounds on the State's surplus land list. The State intended to sell the site, most likely to a private developer. Area residents and people from other parts of the city had been gardening on 4 acres of the site for 15 years, and using much of the rest of it to bird-watch, walk their dogs, and simply wander the land.

Several representatives from the University of Wisconsin joined the Coalition in 1996 when the State added a 16 acre landlocked undeveloped area to the north of the original site to the surplus list.

The Coalition developed an innovative proposal for integrated land use, one that combined housing with open space and agricultural uses. The city accepted the concept plan in 1998 for the community vision that was presented.

In 1997, the state agreed to take the entire 31-acre site off the surplus land list. The Coalition was granted a 16-year lease to use the land for community gardens and open space. By the summer of 1998, the Coalition and the state reached an agreement for a 50-year lease, with a provision to buy the property. After years of fund-raising and development work, the Madison Area Community Land Trust, with support from the City of Madison, succeeded in purchasing the property on December 28, 2001.

Since that time, Community GroundWorks (formerly Friends of Troy Gardens) has been developing the land. The 5-acre community farm has been fenced in to ward against deer depredation, the community gardens have been expanded, the natural areas have been restored, and 30 units of mixed-income housing have been developed. The community vision has taken root - but is still developing. Please join us - as a volunteer or as a member - to be part of growing Troy Gardens.